TOKYO - Railway companies are stepping up their efforts to beat the heat, in response to a series of passengers suffering heatstroke in trains and stations.
The air-con in a train is usually set at a certain temperature. But since three years ago, East Japan Railway has used big data on the number of passengers in different times and zones to introduce train cars that automatically lower the temperature before trains arrive at busy stations where many people will get on.
In addition, JR East and Seibu Railway are using window glass equipped with special metal and filters that absorb UV and infrared rays on some of their trains. "More passengers become sick in crowded trains in summer because heat and odours stay inside the trains," a railway official said. Keio has solicited opinions on its website about the temperatures in its trains, by asking passengers to evaluate the volume of air and temperatures of air-con in the trains they took by zone, time and boarding location, so as to utilise the feedback in its operations.